James Moore Poet Narrative

Notes About The Poem

The Lie of Equality and Truth of Universality

("Niobe's Tear", 2020, original encaustic)

The Lie of Equality and Truth of Universality

The world has always been divided
Along lines of haves and have nots
In whatever way you wish
To measure the having.

The difference today is
Inequality is no longer acceptable.

But since it clearly exists - empirically
In whatever way you measure -
And since one of those measures 
Is the fact one group 
Of people are the majority 
That group must be repressive
And repressors by nature.

That in a nutshell is the basis 
Of systemic racism
The only way to explain the disconnect
Between what is and what is desired,
Or what is actual and ideal.

It’s easy to dismiss the wave of D.E.I training
That comes next
As “Democrat’s Entirely Ignorant” indoctrination 
But it’s deeper than that,
As the dream of equality runs deep
In everyone 
Who just wants to get along
And can feel in their bones
Our connection and a universal something
Which is in fact the lack of individuality
At our core.

From this universal sameness
You could even say - nothingness -
We project all our hopes and fears.

The problem with the idealistic indoctrination 
Is it wants to have it both ways
Individuality and universality
And so bridge the gap
Between fact and fantasy.

The problem with this 
Of course
Is despite all our hopes and fears
It will only end in tears
Because when people who have been hurt
Get tired of being hurt 
They don’t care who they hurt
And the truth of universality is simply
When we hurt others
We hurt ourselves.

(2/15/24)

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